Keyboard attachment for typesetting machines



Jan. 11, 1927 c. A. STQPPLE KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT FOR TYPESETTING uncnmas Filed July 12. 1926 c.A.s TOPPLE mvzzvron Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

uNi rEn STATES.

CLARENCE A. STOPPLE, ornous'ron, TEXAS.

KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT FOR 'IYPESETTING -MACHINES.

Application filed July 12', 1926. Serial No. 121,909.

My invention relates to linotype attachments for use in connection with the keyboard, to transmit the impulse from the key to the matrix delivering magazine, whereby the matrix is released.

In the present mechanism ordinarily employed on linotype machines, the depressing of the key raises a keyboard weight bar which actuates a detent and releases a cam yoke or lever. There is a rotating shaft having thereon a rubber sleeve below'the cam yoke and a cam is rotatable on said yoke so that, when said yoke is released, the cam drops into contact with the rotating rubber sleeve and is itself rotated to raise the yoke,

and with it the reed that releases the proper matrix. The diiiiculty'with this mechanism is that the rubber sleeve becomes worn and hard in a short time with the result that the 1; cam slins thereon and is not rotated rom tly, with the result that the proper matrix is not released on time. i

I aim to provide a reed operatin cam mechanism to be actuated by'the keyboard, which willbe operated positively and accurately when the key is depressed, to release the matrix; and which will not be readily worn and fail to function. It is desired that the device operate instantly at the touch of the key.

It is a further object to provide means for timing the delivery of the matrices whereby one character may be held longer than others, as is desirable particularly with space bands.

It is also desired to provide a balanced keyboard arrangement so that the keyboard will respond to thetouch equally as Well when the operating shaft is not rotating as it does when the shaft rotates.

I also desire to cheapen and simplify the construction of the parts and to economize on the space required to house the mechalllSlll.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a side elevation'of the mechanism embodying my ilnproven'icnt, the power shaft being in transverse section. Fig. 2 is a simi lar View with certain parts broken away and the parts shown in a position difi'erent from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of the power shaft and the cam sleeve thereon. Fig. 1 is a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1. Like numerals are employed to designate like parts in all the views.

In the linotype machine and othersimt lar type setting machines, there is a key: board in which each key operates the mechanism to release a certain matrix or letter. The key 1, shown'in Fig. 1, is a lever piv oted at 2:and having the end 3 reduced in width to fit within a notch or recess 1 in a keyboard weight bar 5. A guide is formed for the weight bar comprising aplate 6 having laterally projecting lugs 7 thereon, which have openings therein toreceive the ends of the weight bar. The lower lug 7 fits below a shoulder on the bar andsupports it in the desired position. i

Above the keyboard is a shaft 8 which is power driven and rotates at a uniform speed in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This shaft has, uniformly spaced radial teeth 9 thereon. It is to be understood that this shaft is adapted to be used for operation of a plurality of keys.

Forwardly of the shaft and above the keyboard is a supporting member 10, which is ordinarily secured upon the frame work of the machine. To this support is pivoted a cam supporting yoke 11. Said yoke is made up of two plates, one of which may be detachably secured upon the other by a screw 12 or other similar means. The ends of these plates away from the pivoted point 13 are enlarged in width and have a circular opening 4 therein to receive the cam sleeve 15. The upper side of the cam supporting yoke has formed therein, adjacent the support 10, a notch or recess 16 which has a forward shoulder 17 thereon.

The cam sleeve 15 is fitted Within the openings 14: in the supporting yoke so as to rotate therein and has an enlarged cam surface 18 midway between its ends, said cam fitting between the two arms of the supporting yoke. The cam, in normal. position, has its widest point 19 projecting forwardly toward the pivotal point of the yoke, as shown in Fig. 1. On the opposite side it is of its narrowest width, the upper part however being formed with a shoulder 20 to engage with an operating lever 21. The cam sleeve 15 is'provided with a central opening 22 therethrough of materially larger diameter than is the shaft 8 which it surrounds. 7 It is formed with inwardly projecting teeth thereon to be engaged by the teeth 9 of the shaft. In normal position, however, the

shaft will rotate freely out of contact with the cam sleeve.

Immediately above the cam supporting yoke is the reed operating lever 21. Th1s lever is supported at is forward end upon a pin 24 about which the lever arm may swing. It has a downwardly projectmg contact point 25 to engage with the shoulder 17. Above the cam sleeve the lever 21 is recessed centrally at 26 to provide space for a bearing roller 27 pivoted at 28 between thetwo sides of the recess. Beyond the said recess the lower side of the lever is formed with a shoulder 29 normally in the path of the shoulder 20 upon the cam. The end 30 of the lever away from its pivotal point rests against a guide 6 and immediately above the upper end of the weight bar 5.

In the operation of my device the parts will be normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 8 willrotate but the cam sleeve will be held out of contact therewith through the support of the point 25 of the lever 21 which bears against theshoulder 17 ofthe yoke 11 and holds it normally upward with the upper can". surface bearing 1 hen the key 1 is against the roller 27. depressed, it will slide the weight bar 5 upwardly, thus raising the end 30 of the lever 21. This will swing the said lever about the pivot 24 removing the supporting point 25 from engagement with the shoulder 17 on the cam yoke, allowing the cam sleeve to drop into the position shown in Fig. 2.

The teeth 9upon the rotating shaft 8 will then engage with the teeth 23 of the cam sleeve, thereby rotating said sleeve and the cam 18 thereon. V

The rotation of the cam sleeve and the cam will serve to raise the end 30 of the lever 21 thus brin in it in contact with the slidable reed 31 and thus tending to release the desired matrix. It will be noted that the cam surface in rotating will bear against the roller 27, thus gradually raising the lever 21, but when the point of widest diameter has passed the roller, the lever will then drop, by gravity bringing the point 25 against the shoulder 17 of the cam supporting yoke, thus raising the yoke and the cam sleeve thereon out of contact with the rotating shaft. The shoulder 20 on the cam will engage the shoulder 29 and prevent further rotation of the cam. be noted that the cam will be continuously rotated if the key 1 is depressed and held in that position. This will tend to release a succession of matrices.

The. advantages of my mechanism will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The matrix releasing lever will be operated positively and quickly at the instant the key is depressed. There will be no danger of slipping between the shaft and the cam. It will also be noted that the time during It will which the lever 21 is held in raised position may beincreas'ed' or decreased by varying the diameter of the cam 18. It could also be increased by increasing the size of the cam sleeve 15 and also the number of teeth thereon; i

It is also possible tomakethe operating parts of slightly thinner material than is ordinarily used so that the width of the keyboard may be diminished. It is also to be noted that accidental repeating of the operation of the cam is prevented by contact of the shoulder 20 on the cam with the stop 29 on thelever 21.

There is a further advantage in my keyboard ov-er the ordinary type of keyboard in that it is so balanced that the touch upon the keys is the same to the operator when the shaft 8 is not rotating as it is when rotation is taking place. Thus, the keyboard may be used for practice when the shaft is not rotating and no difference in the touch will be observed.

lVhile'I have described my invention as applicable particularly to linotype machines, itis to be understood that it is ca pable of use on other similar devices. I do not wish therefore to be confined to any particular application of my invention further than isset out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a key, a weight bar adapted to be lifted by said key, a matrix releasingreed, a lever between said bar and said reed, a rotating shaft above said key, a cam adjacent said shaft and bearing on said lever, means to support said cam, means on said shaft to r0- tate said cam, and means controlled by said lever to hold said cam from rotative engagement with said shaft, said means being re lea-sable by the depression of said key and the raising of said weight bar.

2. In a device of the character described, a key, a weight bar adapted to be lifted by said key, a matrix releasing reed, a lever between said bar and said reed, a rotating shaft above said key, a cam adjacent said shaft and bearing on said lever, means to support said cam, means on said shaft to rotate said cam, and means controlled by said lever to hold said cam from rotative engagement with said shaft, said means being releasable by the depression of said key and the raising of said weight bar, and means on said cam engaging said lever to limit ro tation of said cam when said key is released.

8. In a device of the character described, a key, a weight bar adapted to be lifted by said key, a matrix releasing reed, a lever be tween said bar and said reed, a rotating shaft above said key, a cam adjacent said shaft and bearing on said lever, means to support said cam, means on said shaft to rotate said cam, and means, comprising contacting shoulders on said lever and cam supporting means, to hold said cam from rotative engagement with said shaft, said means being releasable by the depression of said key and the raising of said weight bar.

4. In device of the character described including a key, a weight bar adapted to be lifted thereby, amatrix releasing reed, and a lever between said bar and reed, the combination of a rotating shaft, teeth thereon, a cam sleeve having teeth thereon adapted to engage with said shaft to rotate said cam sleeve, a cam on said cam sleeve contacting with said lever, means on said lever to hold said cam sleeve from rotative engagement with said shaft, said means being releasable to permit said cam sleeve to move into engagement with said shaft, said means being adapted to automatically disengage said cam sleeve from the rotating shaft when said cam has been rotated.

In a device of the character described, a key. a weight bar, a shaft rotatable above said key, teeth on said shaft, a cam yoke pivoted at one end adjacent said shaft, a cam sleeve on said yoke of larger internal diameter than said shaft and spaced around said shaft, internal teeth on said cam sleeve, a cam on said sleeve,a reed operating lever above said yoke and adapted to contact with said cam, and means on said lever engaging said yoke to hold said cam sleeve out of contact with said shaft, said means being eleasable by the depression of said key,

whereby said cam sleeve is rotated by said shaft to raise said lever.

6. In a device of the character described, a reed lifting lever pivoted at one end, a cam yoke pivoted below said lever, a cam sleeve on said yoke adjacent said lever, a rotating shaft in said sleeve, said lever holding said yoke and sleeve normally out of contact with said shaft, means including said leverto allow said sleeve to drop into contact with said shaft, whereby said sleeve may be rotated to engage and raise said lever for the purpose described.

7 In a device of the character described,

a pivoted reed lifting lever, a cam yoke below said lever, a cam rotatable on said yoke to engage said lever, a rotating shaft, means to positively engage said cam and shaft, means on said lever engaging said yoke to hold said cam from operative engagement with said shaft, and manually operable means to move said lever to release said cam yoke and said cam.

8. In a device of the character described, a pivoted reed lifting lever, a cam yoke below said lever, a cam rotatable on said yoke to engage said lever, a rotating shaft, teeth on said cam, co-engaging teeth on said shaft, means on said lever engaging said yoke to hole said am fromoperative engagement with said shaft, and manually operable means to move said lever to release said cam yoke and said cam.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature this 8th day of July, A. D. 1926.

CLARENCE A. STOPPLE. 

